As a batalero told me sometime ago, once the shell of a drum with the shape of a bata as in the Iya, Itotole , and Okonkolo is drilled and metal hardware is placed on it; it stops being a bata.Reasons being in the materials used in the making of a bata in relation to the deities, as in Chango, Yemaya, etc.There is no metal used at all in a bata.

Olsongo, I understand your message very well, I take that to heart. I have no intentions in disrespecting the culture/religion/ifa. My message was intended to inform the community about what is available for commercial and practice purposes. I would never encourage anyone to utilize a well constructed handmade staved BATA drum made by ISLA PERCUSSIONS or any other mass produced drum made overseas for ceremonial reasons. That would be considered a blasphemous act. However the tuning lug design is well suited for drummers that are ready to tune and play their drums with no hassles attached. I've known many novice bataleros that complain about laced drums detuning almost immediately as soon as the climate/temperature changes. On the other hand I personally know master bataleros that pull their laced drums one day and their drum will remain tuned for over a year or longer.It's all dependent on the knowledge and pulling technique that will keep a laced drum tuned for a long period of time. As a matter of fact I am currently working on a carved set of bata drums that I will personally lace while being supervised by my maestro and good friend YAGBE ONILU.